Foundations of Ethical Coaching Behavior

[oso97]

So, the question has been raised in a separate thread about the foundations of ethical coaching behavior. In standard American fashion, this has concentrated on sex. While this says something interesting about our society as a whole, to simply say "don't ever have sex with your students" is hardly a basis for ethical behavior. For starters, ethics encompass a much broader range of topics.

There has been much discussion throughout the centuries of how to construct a moral code of behavior that gives direction and meaning, and yet is durable enough to last. People who study ethics professionally have noted that ethical codes that focus on "Do's" vs "Don'ts" have a much higher rate of compliance. The problem is, its a lot harder to prosecute (persecute? ) people for lapses in ethical behavior.

The purpose behind a code of ethics is to reflect an understanding of what it means to be in a community. It addresses the responsibilities of people toward each other. No code of ethics can be entirely self-sufficient, nor can it be all-encompassing. Codes of ethics are not "how-to" documents, nor should they be a substitute for dealing with other people in an ethical crisis.

I've borrowed a starting place for the construction of ethical codes from a philosophy text book from my undergrad days and reprinted it here:

1: Contribute to society and human well-being.
2: Avoid harm to others.
3: Be honest and trustworthy.
4: Be fair and take action not to discriminate.
5: Respect peers and their accomplishments.
7: Respect the privacy of others.
8: Honor confidentiality.

With respect to the sport of fencing, there are specific questions that fencing coaches face in the course of their regular duties that have ethical implications (and the overwhelming majority of which have NOTHING to do with sex). To give an extremely partial list:

* favoritism for a student or a group of students
* abusive conduct towards a student (verbal, physical, etc) to achieve a specific motivational result
* discrimination against a student because of his or her ethnic group, gender, religious background, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or other personal trait that does not impact their athletic ability
* managing conflicts of interest while serving as a tournament official
* conduct toward other persons that one interacts with via involvement in the sport: tournament officials and spectators, other coaches, students of other coaches, landlords and other authorities
* personal relationships between coaches and students, or coaches and parents of students (ahh, finally, sex! everyone happy now?)

Another failure of many ethical codes is to specify specific transgressions and punishments. This quite often has the simultaneous effect of not reducing the proscribed actions and people believing that any action not specifically proscribed is "okay." Ethical behavior does not involve choosing between a list of behaviors written on a page - the motivations behind and consequences of those behaviors are better guides for judging the ethical standard of a behavior.

To give a specific example of an ethical problem, let us consider the relationship between coaches and referees. This relationship is often fraught with difficulty, and differences of opinion can honestly arise. However, the way in which these relationships are managed can either be ethical or not. A coach who subjects referees to verbal abuse, showering them with a flourish of invectives and commentary about their honesty and ability, could be said to be displaying extremely unethical behavior. And a coach who puts on this kind of show specifically to demonstrate to the (paying) parents of his student that he is a knowledgeable and tough guy who will "stand up" for his students, is definitely crossing the line of ethical behavior. However, a coach who upon encountering a referee with whom he has a difference of opinion should realize that in addition to being unethical, the above approach has a possibility of getting himself kicked out of the tournament, thus depriving his students of his advice when they might need it most. He has failed the ethical standard with respect to both his students and his associates.

I hope I've demonstrated here the need for the development of a comprehensive and useful ethical code for fencing coaches. One that is rooted in the idea that we are all members of a community, and our actions have effects upon the entire community, and addresses the broad range of ethics, not just specific transgressions.

[Mr Epee]

9. Cite your sources

Kinda funny how you chose to key in on 'coaches yelling at referees', but mock the inappropriate relationship topic. Smacks of objectivity. Good stuff.

[Bryn Ralph]

Touche! Mr. Epee.

Merry Christmas!

[oso97]

Continued from above:

Another example of an ethical conundrum is dealings with paying clients. In the course of his or her professional endeavors, a coach may, if lucky, encounter that client who has both the means and the willingness to pay a higher rate for the coaches service. Complicating this issue is the fact that most coaches in fact undercharge what their time is worth. But, if a parent is willing to pay for a coach to be present at a tournament for their child, and is in fact willing to pay for that coach to be present ONLY for their child, to the exclusion of the coach's other students, should the coach accept such an offer? What about a situation that occurs when a gifted student appears, yet that student is challenged in coming up with the resources to attend competitions, much less pay for the services of a coach there? Are there ways of mitigating these ethical quagmires that can tear apart clubs and communities?

Fencing coaches often find themselves in a situation working for someone else. An academic institution, community recreation center, health club, non-profit foundation, for-profit private enterprise, etc. Often these places have specific ethics codes for their employees. For example, the NCAA has a period of "blackout" dates where NCAA coaches are not allowed to have any contact, or even directly observe potential recruits. A work-around that has been used by some NCAA coaches is to serve as a tournament official, thereby being involved in the tournament as something other than a coach. Many NCAA coaches are also high level USFA referees, and without their services as tournament officials, the USFA would be hard pressed to find the referee staff for NACs. Is it ethical to circumvent the NCAA's regulations in this manner?

The list goes on...

[Allen Evans]

Where do anonymous postings of fencing advice (which may or may not be valid) on F.net fall into this?

AE

[Fencergrl]

So, the question has been raised in a separate thread about the foundations of ethical coaching behavior. In standard American fashion, this has concentrated on sex. While this says something interesting about our society as a whole, to simply say "don't ever have sex with your students" is hardly a basis for ethical behavior.

I think you're way off base here. I don't think it's "standard American fashion" to make this about sex. I think it's common ethical behaviour in all work environments. I posted this in another thread, but it seems more fitting here.

Let's try this from a different angle. Coaching is a work environment. I think we can all agree with this. Some coaches may not be paid much (or at all) but it is a place of work. For me, it's my full-time occupation.

In working environments, it is considered inappropriate/ unprofessional/ unethical to date/ be married to someone you work directly with or in the same department. Sometimes this applies to all relations (ie children) but not always.

As a coach you should want to uphold the standards of other work environments. In doing so, you are seen as behaving in a professional, appropriate and/or ethical manner. In not doing so, you are behaving unprofessional and can be perceived as behaving unethically.

Ethics are can be quite simple... What it often comes down to, is how you want to be perceived by the community. Would a parent feel less comfortable about a coach if that coach had his own child in a class? Most would be okay with this. However many would not be as comfortable about a coach who was dating a student he was coaching.

[darius]

We can debate these various facets of ethical behavior and come up with a prioritized list of what actions are bad, and that may be valid thinking, but bottom line -- individuals will pick their actions based on their personal moral codes or lack thereof.

But, if a parent is willing to pay for a coach to be present at a tournament for their child, and is in fact willing to pay for that coach to be present ONLY for their child, to the exclusion of the coach's other students, should the coach accept such an offer? What about a situation that occurs when a gifted student appears, yet that student is challenged in coming up with the resources to attend competitions, much less pay for the services of a coach there? Are there ways of mitigating these ethical quagmires that can tear apart clubs and communities?

This is solved by program design. Find ways to spread the costs, make them predictable. Create a scholarship fund; we hold tournaments where the proceeds go towards helping our athletes go to Europe for World Cups. At the end of the day, a certain percentage of people will complain that they're not getting enough. But those people will generally never be mollified.

A work-around that has been used by some NCAA coaches is to serve as a tournament official, thereby being involved in the tournament as something other than a coach.

Is it ethical for the NCAA to create rules which apply very well to the revenue sports, where shady types are promising NFL riches to high school sophomores, and apply them to niche sports like fencing in ways which quash healthy interactions between individuals?

The list could go on and on and we could slippery slope all of it -- I'd rather deal in specifics.

At the end of the day, try to use primary sources of information (rather than the rumor mill) as much as possible, and try to live by that Google slogan: "Don't be evil." Perhaps that will be seen as a competitive advantage -- in a community as insular as ours, karma has a way of coming around.

darius

[ESLyon]

Kinda funny how you chose to key in on 'coaches yelling at referees', but mock the inappropriate relationship topic. Smacks of objectivity. Good stuff.

That does not mean what oso wrote is any less appropriate or applicable. I didn't really detect any mockery in her post, just frustration that most ethical discussions (in America specifically) focused on the relationship/sex aspect of ethics and wanted to bring to our attention that there is a whole range of ethics that the other post was apparently ignoring (don't know personally haven't read it myself).

9. Cite your sources

As I am just finishing English 102, so I may be a little biased, but when did this forum turn into an English class? No citations required, just honest opinion. I think oso makes a good point and I could care less if it came from his/her college ethics book, their Dr. Suess book, or their own mind.


Can someone post a link to the other thread? I cannot find it.

[MdA]

In defense of USFCA

Let's put all these good ideas to work. I will talk to President Salem this weekend in Colorado Springs. I will ask him to establish an Ethics Committee. I am sure we can come up with something to vote on by next August.

Any volunteers? And for people like Mr. E, you may send in your membership application. Associate members can be appointed and vote in committees....as long as you're over the age of 18.....we can get a lot of work done by email....and report progress to this forum...and get inputs.

[jBirch]

We can debate these various facets of ethical behavior and come up with a prioritized list of what actions are bad, and that may be valid thinking, but bottom line -- individuals will pick their actions based on their personal moral codes or lack thereof.

Just because a problem is hard and complex doesn't mean that it isn't important to consider it or that attempts to solve it are misguided.

Let's first define what the purpose of ethics, as different from morality and culture, is and then figure out what "Ethical Coaching" means.

To whit, I'd propose the following:

1) The utility of "public ethics" or "shared ethics" is to simply declare a standard of conduct, which is independent of belief or individual thinking.

2) That communal standard, rather then the aberrant actions of individuals, is to be judged as representative of the community.

3) The standard should be internally consistent (ie// free of ethical paradoxes) and complete (all possible ethical situations should be covered at least generally).

Here's the Wiki article detailing all the different schools of ethical thought that we can subscribe to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics.

When it comes to "Ethical Coaching" then, I think that we're talking about :

1) Equality (that each student is to be treated according to their needs),

2) Trust (that a coach can be trusted to act in the best interests of the student and not in their own self interest),

3) Competency (that the coach knows what they're talking about and strives to know more).

4) Community (that the coach acts in the best interests of the club, the community, the sport and the world rather then the single individual)

There is an association in Canada dedicated to studying and defining this concept called The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport: http://www.cces.ca/forms/index.cfm?d...e_id=46&lang=e

Their website may add more information to the discussion.

James.

[Fencergrl]

Let's put all these good ideas to work. I will talk to President Salem this weekend in Colorado Springs. I will ask him to establish an Ethics Committee. I am sure we can come up with something to vote on by next August.
.

Check out this Canadian site as well. At the Aide Moniteur level, there is a "Make Ethical Decisions" workbook, class discussion and test you can take online (the one shown on the page I linked).
http://www.coach.ca/eng/ethics/index.cfm

[MdA]

The NCCP seems to be rather high level (2 pages) …not as detailed as the USOC code.

The CoC Code of Ethics seems to be a little lighter on the issue of sex than the USOC Code….which seems to support oso’s point on the American hypersensitivity to this issue…and possibly reflects a greater concern for “risk management” as pointed out by keith.

“Be acutely aware of power in coaching relationships and,
therefore, relationships avoid sexual intimacy with athletes, both during coaching and
during that period following coaching during when imbalance in
power could jeopardize effective decision-making.”

However, these documents represent a good start for the USFCA. I think these two documents could be used to produce a code for the USFCA in a short time.

By the way…I am still unable to download the USOC Coaching Ethics Code from the USOC website. Is anyone else having this problem?

Here is another source to find a copy of the code….with a good intro

http://www.asiaing.com/united-states...hics-code.html

The American Swimming Coaches association has developed their own Code of Ethics which is what I suggest for the USFCA.

http://www.swimmingcoach.org/service..._of_ethics.asp


Any volunteers for the Ethics Committee?

...... and I encourage.....others (who complain about the USFCA ..... to make a motion to put those changes, such as a more precise ethics requirement, into the USFCA bylaws. Sometimes the only way to get an organization to represent you is to take charge of it.... so if need be run for office and see to it that the changes are made (or find out exactly why those changes haven't been put into place).

[MdA]

Where do anonymous postings of fencing advice (which may or may not be valid) on F.net fall into this?

AE

Allen, I don't know and I think we have enough on our plates....right now.

[keith]

The American Swimming Coaches association has developed their own Code of Ethics which is what I suggest for the USFCA.

.... and the important thing is that the disciplinary process takes up (much) more of the page than the code. There really is no point in devising a code of ethics without also devising the stick; what other purpose could all those circles of hell possibly serve?

[MdA]

.... and the important thing is that the disciplinary process takes up (much) more of the page than the code. There really is no point in devising a code of ethics without also devising the stick; what other purpose could all those circles of hell possibly serve?

Is that the "stupid stick" Mr. E was referring to in the other thread?